Technique for suggesting facilities in route navigation

ABSTRACT

In a navigation device in accordance with the invention, user profiles may be stored and used to navigate a user who may be driving in a vehicle, on foot, or in other mode of transportation. Each user profile corresponds to one of the user&#39;s personae. For example, the user business profile corresponding to the user&#39;s business persona may be different from the user personal profile corresponding to the user&#39;s personal persona. For instance, the user business profile may include fine-dining type restaurants for business meetings while the user personal profile may instead include fast-food type restaurants for personal dining. The inventive navigation device provides the user with a navigated route, together with information concerning the favorite facilities and events surrounding the navigated route, which satisfy the preferences in a selected user profile. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, blockages may also be established using the device to avoid selected areas, e.g., high crime areas, in the navigated route, or to block transmission of selected information concerning, e.g., uninteresting facilities and events, to the inventive navigation device.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/382,687filed on Mar. 6, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,829,532, which is acontinuation of application Ser. No. 09/830,064 filed on Apr. 20, 2001now U.S. Pat. No. 6,542,812, which is a National Stage of InternationalApplication No. PCT/US00/27270 filed on Oct. 4, 2000, which waspublished under PCT Article 12 (2) in English and which claims thepriority of Provisional Application No. 60/160,326 filed on Oct. 19,1999.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a navigation technique, and more particularlyto a technique for navigation subject to user preferences.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Recently, navigation systems based on global positioning system (GPS)technology were developed for use in an automobile. Such navigationsystems are capable of receiving signals from a constellation ofsatellites which is part of the GPS. Based on the received signals, onesuch navigation system identifies the automobile's location, e.g., inlatitude and longitude. The navigation system also detects theautomobile's speed and direction. With geographic information stored inan on-board computer in the automobile, the navigation system is capableof audio-visually communicating to a user instructions for reaching agiven destination.

Similarly, a GPS navigation device in hand-held form enables a usercarrying the device to monitor his/her planned route leading to a givendestination. Nowadays, in general, hand-held devices for informationorganization and communications are popular and have been proliferating.For example, use of cellular phones for communications is ubiquitous.Use of personal data assistants (PDAs), e.g., PALM type hand-helddevices, is equally ubiquitous for organizing personal informationincluding meeting schedules, telephone listing, address information,etc. More recently, hand-held communicators emerged which have cellularcommunication and modem facilities integrated into a PDA, therebyenabling a user to communicate data in a wireless manner, e.g., to sendand receive email, and to upload and download information from websitesvia the Internet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Traditionally, a navigation device, e.g., a GPS navigation system usedin an automobile, provides a user with directions to a givendestination. The navigation typically provides the shortest navigatedroute in terms of distance to the given destination. However, we haveexpanded the concept of the traditional navigation to broadly includeproviding a navigated route subject to user preferences, together withinformation concerning facilities and events surrounding the navigatedroute for the user's convenience. The navigated route is selected tosatisfy a trip's purpose. Such a trip's purpose may be (1) to reach agiven destination as in prior art, and/or (2) to perform certain tasksenroute or at the destination, which may include purchasing businesssupplies, shopping for gifts, dining, obtaining entertainments, etc. Torealize (2), the navigator arrangement in accordance with the inventionallows for storage of user profiles including user preferences such aspreferred types of restaurants, shops, entertainments, etc.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, each user profilecorresponds to one of the user's personae. For example, the userbusiness profile corresponding to the user's business persona may bedifferent from the user personal profile corresponding to his/herpersonal persona. For instance, the user business profile may includefine-dining type restaurants for business meetings while the userpersonal profile may instead include fast-food type restaurants forpersonal dining. Thus, the navigator arrangement in accordance with theinvention provides a navigated route, together with informationconcerning the favorite facilities and events surrounding the navigatedroute, which satisfy the preferences in a selected user profile.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the user can adopt asecond person's profile for a trip's purpose particular to that secondperson, thereby temporarily assuming the second person's persona toachieve such a trip's purpose.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, the actualnavigated route selected by the inventive navigator arrangement maydepend on the mode of transportation specified by the user. For example,driving and walking are two different modes of transportation. Theselected route for driving may be very different from that for walking,even though they may accomplish the same trip's purpose. The routes fromwhich the inventive navigator arrangement selects for driving have to bepassable by an automobile, which exclude, e.g., foot bridges, and walkpaths through buildings, parks, fields, forests, etc. On the other hand,the routes from which the inventive navigator arrangement selects forwalking have to be safe to pedestrians, which exclude, e.g., highways,freeways, etc.

In accordance with still yet another aspect of the invention, the actualroute selected by the inventive navigator arrangement may also depend onexternal conditions, e.g., traffic, weather and road conditions. Thus,based on the information concerning such external conditions receivedfrom, say, a server via the Internet, the inventive navigatorarrangement selects the most time-efficient route, e.g., one thatrequires the least travel time, to accomplish the trip's purpose despiteany adverse traffic, weather and road conditions.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a user mayprescribe one or more roadblocks specifying certain prohibited areas orpaths from which the route selected by the inventive navigatorarrangement deviates. For example, it may be sensible to placeroadblocks around high crime areas especially when the user is new intown and unfamiliar with those areas. A roadblock may be permanent ortemporary. For example, a temporary roadblock may be placed on certainstreets where a parade is held which lasts for several hours. Similar toa roadblock, a blockade may be imposed to block transmission of certaininformation to the inventive navigator arrangement which concerns, e.g.,uninteresting facilities or events.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Further aspects, features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawing showing an illustrative embodiment of theinvention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a navigator arrangement in accordance withthe invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a registration page shown on a display in thearrangement of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a profile setting page shown on the display;

FIG. 4 illustrates the format of a user record stored in a memory of thearrangement of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 illustrates a setup where the arrangement of FIG. 1 communicateswith a remote server through a communications network;

FIG. 6 illustrates a personal favorite list shown on the display;

FIG. 7 illustrates preset profiles shown on the display;

FIG. 8 illustrates a navigation page shown on the display;

FIG. 9 illustrates a directions page shown on the display;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart depicting a navigation process based on certaininformation in the record of FIG. 4;

FIG. 11 illustrates a map viewer page shown on the display;

FIG. 12 illustrates a restaurant page shown on the display;

FIG. 13 illustrates a restaurant menu page shown on the display; and

FIG. 14 illustrates an inquiry page where a user is presented a choiceof blockades in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates navigator arrangement 100 embodying the principles ofthe invention for navigation subject to user preferences. Navigatorarrangement 100 in this instance is realized as a hand-held device,which may be “docked” or connected to another device or system toenhance its functionality, which may include a terminal, workstation,computer system, or an automobile system described, e.g., in U.S. Pat.No. 6,009,355 issued to Obradovich et al. on Dec. 28, 1999.

As shown in FIG. 1, navigator arrangement 100 includes processor 103,memory 108, display driver 111, display 113, user interface 115,external interfaces 117, GPS receiver 119, communication unit 120.Memory 108 is used to store software and data for processor 103 to carryout various operations of arrangement 100. In this instance, the storedsoftware includes a navigator browser similar to the well known NETSCAPENAVIGATOR or MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER web browser for browsinginformation provided, e.g., by servers connected to the Internet. Inparticular, the navigator browser works compatibly with the standardhypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), hypertext markup language (HTML),virtual reality markup language (VRML), graphics interchange format(GIF), JAVA applets, etc.

Display 113 may include a conventional liquid crystal display (LCD).Through display driver 111, processor 103 controls the display of textand graphics on display 113 in a predetermined format. User interface115 may comprise conventional audio circuitry including a microphone andspeaker for the user to communicate with arrangement 100 via audiomedia. User interface 115 may also comprise an indicator device, e.g., amouse, touchpad, roller ball, or a combination thereof, which enables auser to move a cursor on display 113 and to, e.g., point and click at adisplayed option or an icon to select same. In addition, interface 115may incorporate well-known touch-screen circuitry (not shown). With thiscircuitry, the user can interact with processor 103, e.g., using afinger or a stylus to touch the surface of display 113 which istactile-sensitive. Processor 103 receives from the touch screencircuitry a signal identifying the location on display 113 where it hasbeen touched. If such a location matches the predetermined location ofone of displayed options or icons, processor 103 determines that theoption or icon has been selected. Otherwise, a cursor is placed at thetouched location on display 113, prompting for an input from the user.

The user input may be realized using a virtual keyboard shown on display113 also provided by the touch-screen circuitry. In a well known manner,characters are input by touching the corresponding keys on the virtualkeyboard. Alternatively, processor 103 may be programmed to recognizehandwritten characters, and may receive through the touch-screencircuitry images of characters drawn by the user on display 113. Anyrecognized characters corresponding to the drawn images then become theuser input. Still alternatively, through one of external interfaces 117,arrangement 100 can be connected to a keyboard device or a personalcomputer (PC) having a keyboard for user input.

However, we have recognized that the traditional ways of inputting datato a hand-held device are inefficient. For example, user input by drawnimages of characters is often susceptible to inaccurate characterrecognition by the device, thus requiring repeated input of the samecharacters, which is frustrating. Limited by the size of a display in ahand-held device, a virtual keyboard does not afford much room to eachcharacter key thereon. As a result, data entry using the virtualkeyboard is also error prone. Inputting data to a hand-held device usinga physical keyboard connected thereto is undesirable because of thebulkiness of the keyboard, which defeats the purpose of having thehand-held device for its easy transportability in the first place.

However, navigator arrangement 100 is designed pursuant to an object tominimize data entry by the user. To the extent possible, databases inarrangement 100 are pre-populated with data, which the user may edit tosatisfy his/her needs. In addition, arrangement 100 allows fordownloading of data from a remote source to supplement and update thedatabases in arrangement 100, and to provide thereto just-in-timeinformation, including, e.g., latest traffic, weather, map and otherinformation. To that end, transceiver 121 in communication unit 120includes, e.g., cellular telephone circuitry for transmitting andreceiving information via a wireless communications network, e.g., thewell known advanced mobile phone service (AMPS) network, digital AMPSnetwork, personal communications service (PCS) network, global systemfor mobile communications (GSM) network, etc. Modem 123 is used formodulating and demodulating carriers carrying the information throughdata channels, e.g., cellular digital packet data (CDPD) channels, inthe wireless communications network.

Traditionally, a navigation device, e.g., a GPS navigation system usedin an automobile, provides a user with directions to a givendestination. The navigation typically provides the shortest navigatedroute in terms of distance to the given destination. However, we haveexpanded the concept of the traditional navigation to broadly includeproviding a navigated route subject to user preferences, together withinformation concerning facilities and events surrounding the navigatedroute for the user's convenience. The navigated route is selected tosatisfy a trip's purpose. Such a trip's purpose may be (1) to reach agiven destination as in prior art, and/or (2) to perform certain tasksenroute or at the destination, which may include purchasing businesssupplies, shopping for gifts, dining, obtaining entertainments, etc. Torealize (2), navigator arrangement 100 in accordance with the inventionallows for storage of user profiles including user preferences such aspreferred types of restaurants, shops, entertainments, etc.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, each user profilecorresponds to one of the user's personae. For example, the userbusiness profile corresponding to the user's business persona may bedifferent from the user personal profile corresponding to his/herpersonal persona. For instance, the user business profile may includefine-dining type restaurants for business meetings while the userpersonal profile may instead include fast-food type restaurants forpersonal dining. Other profiles may include a vacation profile whichcorresponds to the user's vacation persona and may include a differentset of preferred restaurants, shops, entertainments, etc.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the user can adopt asecond person's profile for a certain trip's purpose, therebytemporarily assuming the second person's persona, especially whenarrangement 100 is shared by more than one person. For example, where ahusband and wife share the use of arrangement 100, the husband mayutilize the wife's profile in arrangement 100 to shop for a gift for thewife's birthday. Based on the profile corresponding to the wife'spersonal persona, arrangement 100 provides a navigated route, togetherwith information concerning the wife's personal favorite shopssurrounding the route. Of course, each user's profiles may be protectedagainst uninvited intruders. In that case, access to the profiles mayrequire verification of a personal identification number (PIN) orpassword, or other well known secure access measures. Profiles may alsobe imported or downloaded into arrangement 100 from an external sourceor from another arrangement similar to arrangement 100.

Thus, in accordance with the invention, arrangement 100 provides anavigated route, together with information concerning the favoritefacilities and events surrounding the navigated route, which satisfy thepreferences in a selected user profile. In this instance, suchinformation comes from an external source, e.g., a server connected tothe Internet, and is communicated to arrangement 100 throughcommunication unit 120.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the actual navigatedroute selected by arrangement 100 may depend on the mode oftransportation specified by the user. For example, driving and walkingare two different modes of transportation. The selected route fordriving may be very different from that for walking, even though theymay accomplish the same trip's purpose. The routes from whicharrangement 100 selects for driving have to be passable by anautomobile, which exclude, e.g., foot bridges, and walk paths throughbuildings, parks, fields, forests, etc. On the other hand, the routesfrom which arrangement 100 selects for walking have to be safe topedestrians, which exclude, e.g., highways, freeways, etc.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, the actual routeselected by arrangement 100 may also depend on external conditions,e.g., traffic, weather and road conditions. Thus, based on theinformation concerning such external conditions received from, say, aserver via the Internet, arrangement 100 selects the most time-efficientroute, e.g., one that requires the least travel time, to accomplish thetrip's purpose despite any adverse traffic, weather and road conditions.

In accordance with still yet another aspect of the invention, a user mayprescribe one or more roadblocks specifying certain prohibited areas orpaths from which the route selected by arrangement 100 deviates. Forexample, it may be sensible to place roadblocks around high crime areasespecially when the user is new in town and unfamiliar with those areas.A roadblock may be permanent or temporary. For example, a temporaryroadblock may be placed on certain streets where a parade is held whichlasts for several hours. Similar to a roadblock, a blockade may beimposed to block transmission of certain information to arrangement 100which concerns, e.g., uninteresting facilities or events.

When a user initially utilizes arrangement 100 for navigation inaccordance with the invention, the navigator browser in arrangement 100opens a REGISTRATION page on display 113. FIG. 2 illustrates such aREGISTRATION page where the user is prompted for entering his/herpersonal data, e.g., his/her name, age, sex, marital status, occupation,city, education, religion and number of children.

After the entry of the personal data, the navigator browser opens aPROFILE SETTING page on display 113. FIG. 3 illustrates such a PROFILESETTING page for the user to set up a profile corresponding to one ofhis/her personae. The user here is afforded a choice of “business”,“personal” and “vacation” personae in box 203. By way of example, theuser in this instance wants to set up a “personal” profile whichincludes preferences of the user while on personal travel (as opposed tobusiness travel or vacation travel). Thus, the user may use a stylus totouch the “personal” option (as opposed to the “business” or “vacation”option) in box 203 on display 113 to select the option.

In addition, the user is prompted to select preferences in differentcategories to be included in his/her personal profile. For example,these categories may comprise MUSIC category 205, ENTERTAINMENT category207, SHOPPING category 209, RECREATION category 211, SPORTS category213, RESTAURANTS category 215 and SERVICES category 217. In thisinstance, the user selects COUNTRY option 231, and JAZZ option 235 inMUSIC category 205 for his/her music preferences. Similarly, the usermay also select any options in other categories for inclusion in his/herpersonal profile. Each selected option is illustratively indicated by acheck mark at the option. Other profiles such as a business profile andvacation profile may be similarly set up.

Continuing the above example, after setting up his/her personal profile,the user selects SUBMIT option 241. In response, processor 103 in FIG. 1obtains from GPS receiver 119 data concerning the GPS coordinates of thecurrent location of arrangement 100. Based on the signals from aconstellation of satellites which form part of the GPS, receiver 119 ina well known manner determines the GPS coordinates in question.Processor 103 then creates a record associated with the user. FIG. 4illustrates the format of such a record (denoted 400) created byprocessor 103 in memory 108. Record 400 comprises section 503 containingthe aforementioned personal data including, among others, the user'sname which identifies record 400. Section 505 contains any businessprofile set up by the user. Section 507 in this instance contains thepersonal profile described above. Section 509 contains any vacationprofile set up by the user. Section 511 contains the aforementioned GPSdata indicating the current location of arrangement 100. Section 513contains map and related information, based on which processor 103 iscapable of generating maps which correspond to different modes oftransportation, e.g., by automobile, on foot or by rail. Such map andrelated information also includes identities of facilities and events,and the GPS coordinates identifying the locations of such facilities andevents on the maps. Section 515 contains business favorites which aredetermined based on the personal data in section 503, business profilein section 505 and GPS data in section 511. Similarly, section 517contains personal favorites which are determined based on the personaldata in section 503, personal profile in section 507 and GPS data insection 511; and section 519 contains vacation favorites which aredetermined based on the personal data in section 503, vacation profilein section 509 and GPS data in section 511. It should be noted at thispoint that the information in sections 513, 515, 517 and 519 is providedby a navigation server connected to the Internet.

Continuing the above example, processor 103 in this instance causes thenavigator browser in arrangement 100 to generate a request to thenavigation server for the map and related information in section 513 andpersonal favorites in section 517. This request contains the personaldata in section 503, personal profile in section 507, GPS data insection 511, a pre-assigned Internet protocol (IP) address foridentifying the browser as the request originator, and a predetermineduniform resource locator (URL) identifying the navigation server on theInternet. It should be noted that the GPS data in section 511 isrefreshed continually and in particular each time immediately before arequest is sent to the navigation server to reflect the most currentlocation of arrangement 100. The request is formatted in accordance withthe requisite protocols including the well known transmission controlprotocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP) in this instance.

Referring to FIG. 5, processor 103 causes communication unit 120 innavigator arrangement 100 to establish a dial-up connection throughwireless communications network 613 to access server 622 maintained byan Internet service provider (ISP). The aforementioned request is thentransmitted to access server 622 through the established connection.Upon receipt of the request, based on the URL therein, access server 622routes the request to navigation server 630 identified by the URL. Itshould be noted at this point that server 622 may not be the only accessserver on the Internet serving arrangement 100 and the like. It will beappreciated that more access servers similar to server 622 aregeographically distributed for effective communications with arrangement100 and the like.

Navigation server 630 which may be a host computer provides thenavigation service in accordance with the invention. Among other things,server 630 receives data from different sources and maintains numerousdatabases therein including a map database, a weather database, atraffic database, a road-condition database, a subscriber database, anon-subscriber database, etc.

The map database provides data concerning maps covering variousgeographic areas. Each map includes layers corresponding to differentmodes of transportation. For example, a first map layer corresponds totravel by automobile; a second map layer corresponds to travel on foot;a third map layer corresponds to travel by rail; etc. The map layers canbe combined to facilitate travel by more than one mode oftransportation. Buildings, locations, streets, roadways and the like inthe map layers are defined and identified in the database by their GPScoordinates.

The weather database contains data concerning weather conditions invarious geographic areas, which is collected and updated by server 630from time to time using such systems as the United States satellitesystems, Delta radars, local area radars, etc. The data concerning theweather conditions is stored in the weather database according to theGPS coordinates defining the areas affected by the weather conditions,respectively. As such, each weather condition is readily mapped to thearea defined by the corresponding GPS coordinates in the map layers.

Similarly, the traffic and road-condition databases each contain dataconcerning traffic and road conditions, which is updated and derived byserver 630 from official traffic and road-condition reports furnished bylocal departments of transportation, and from data provided by wellknown radar systems such as line-of-sight radars, and Doppler radarseach with terrain following capabilities, to sense surrounding trafficand road conditions. The data concerning the traffic conditions (roadconditions) is stored in the traffic (road-condition) database accordingto the GPS coordinates defining the areas affected by the trafficconditions (road conditions), respectively. As such, each trafficcondition (road condition) is readily mapped to the area defined by thecorresponding GPS coordinates in the map layers.

The subscriber database in server 630 contains data concerningcommercial facilities and events, e.g., department stores, gas stations,concerts, etc., which subscribe to the navigation service. With paymentof a subscription fee, the subscribers may appear in the map layers forpromotional purposes. The identities of the subscribers are stored inthe subscriber database according to the GPS coordinates of thelocations of such subscribers, along with other information concerningtheir address, contact phone number, web URL, business hours,advertisement, promotion, directory, etc.

The non-subscriber database in server 630 contains data concerningpublic facilities (e.g., parks, hospitals and rest stops) and civic andcharity events which are selected to appear in the map layer withoutpayment of a subscription fee. The identities of such non-subscribersare stored in the non-subscriber database according to the GPScoordinates of their locations, along with other information concerningtheir address, contact phone number, web URL, charity or civicfunctions, etc.

Continuing the above example, upon receiving the request fromarrangement 100, based on the personal data, personal profile and GPSdata therein, server 630 determines the user's personal favorites asrequired, e.g., favorite personal facilities and events, within alimited navigation coverage, e.g., defined by a predetermined radiusfrom the GPS coordinates identified by the GPS data. Such favoritefacilities and events may be selected from the above-describedsubscriber and non-subscriber databases. In addition, based on the map,weather, traffic, road-condition, subscriber and nonsubscriberdatabases, server 630 provides the requested map and relatedinformation, which concerns (i) the map layers affording the limitednavigation coverage, (ii) the weather, traffic and road conditionsrelevant to the coverage, (iii) the subscribers and non-subscribersappearing in the coverage, and (iv) a time stamp indicating when the mapand related information is provided. Since even with the same navigationcoverage, the weather, traffic and road conditions in (ii) vary withtime. As such, the map and related information is time-sensitive andthus includes the time stamp in (iv) to ensure its just-in-timeprovision.

Server 630 then transmits a response which contains (a) the IP addressof the navigator browser in arrangement 100 to which the response isdestined, (b) the personal favorite facilities and events justdetermined, and the GPS coordinates thereof, and (c) the map and relatedinformation, in accordance with the predetermined protocols. Uponreceiving the response, processor 103 in arrangement 100 causes thereceived (b) and (c) to be stored in sections 517 and 513 of record 400,respectively.

When the content of section 517 is modified, as is in this case, theresulting list of personal favorites is automatically displayed for theuser's review. FIG. 6 illustrates such a personal favorite list (denoted651) shown on display 113 which includes, e.g., “Home Depot,” “WellsFargo,” “Vons,” “Chevron,” “Jack in the Box,” . . .

It should be noted at this point that the personal favorites selected byserver 630 may vary with the GPS data identifying the current locationof arrangement 100, even though the personal data and personal profileremain the same. This stems from the fact that the selected favoritefacilities and events may be limited to certain areas. When suchfacilities or events are outside the current navigation coverage, theyare either eliminated or substituted by server 630 with similarfacilities or events, in accordance with predetermined programinstructions in server 630. For example, “Jack in the Box” which is apopular fast food restaurant in California but unavailable in New Yorkmay be substituted with “Wendy's” when the navigation coverage includesNew York. In addition, server 630 may add to the personal favorite listthose facilities and events which satisfy the personal data and personalprofile, and which would otherwise be unavailable had it not been thecurrent navigation coverage.

Advantageously, when a user travels from one navigation coverage toanother, based on the same personal data and personal profile and thecurrent personal favorite list, server 630 can “clone” personal favoritelists which correspond to different navigation coverages. Similarly,server 630 can clone business favorite lists corresponding to differentnavigation coverages based on the same personal data and businessprofile and the current business favorite list, and vacation favoritelists corresponding to different navigation coverages based on the samepersonal data and vacation profile and the current vacation favoritelist. Thus, with arrangement 100, the user's lifestyle is maintained asmuch as possible despite traveling from place to place.

List 651 in FIG. 6 tends to be overinclusive. The user is afforded EDIToption 653 to modify the list to satisfy his/her needs. For example, todelete an item in list 651, the item is selected, followed by aselection of EDIT option 653. Processor 103 overwrites the content ofsection 517 of record 400 with the resulting list of personal favorites.

As mentioned before, the user may sometimes want to adopt anotherperson's profile for a certain trip's purpose, e.g., buying a gift forthat person. Thus, the user is also afforded preset profiles inarrangement 100, from which the user may select. Such preset profilesmay be accessed by selecting PRESET PROFILE option 239 on the PROFILESETTING page of FIG. 3. FIG. 7 illustrates preset Profiles 1 through 6corresponding to profiles of a typical “Man,” “Woman,” “Business Man,”“Business Woman,” “Senior Citizen,” and “Teenager.” For example, theuser may be a female and want to buy a gift for a man in a businesssetting. In that case, the user may want to view the preferences inProfile 3 of a business man using VIEW option 703, and may select such aprofile using SELECT option 705, thereby assuming a man's businesspersona. After such a selection, a list of favorites corresponding toProfile 3 would be downloaded from navigation server 630 for the user'sreview in a manner described above. The user may then get a gift ideafrom the favorite list, and request arrangement 100 to navigate her to aselected favorite facility to buy the gift.

It should be noted that the user may also start with one or more ofpreset profiles in FIG. 7, which the user may edit to become his/herbusiness, personal and/or vacation profile described above.

Referring back to FIG. 6, after the business, personal and/or vacationfavorite list is established, the user may select NAVIGATE option 657for navigation by arrangement 100 in accordance with the invention. Uponsuch a selection by the user, the navigator browser in arrangement 100opens a NAVIGATION page on display 113. FIG. 8 illustrates theNAVIGATION page where the user is prompted to select the mode oftransportation (e.g., “By Automobile,” “On Foot,” or “By Rail” in box803), and the list of favorites (e.g., “Personal,” “Business” or“Vacation” favorites in box 807) used during the current navigationepisode.

By way of example, the user in this instance is on a personal road tripand thus selects “By Automobile” as the mode of transportation, and“Personal” as the favorite list used. In response, the navigator browseropens a DIRECTIONS page on display 113. FIG. 9 illustrates such aDIRECTIONS page where the user is prompted to enter an originationaddress at query 903, where the navigation starts. In this instance, theuser adopts the default response to query 903 which is the locationidentified by the GPS data in section 511 of record 400. Otherwise, theuser may enter a different origination address. The user is alsoprompted to enter a destination address at query 905. The user in thisinstance enters a home address as the destination address. To avoidre-entering the same address in the future, the user may selectLOCATIONS option 910 to save the address. In that case, the user isprompted to assign an icon, e.g., icon 915, and a designation, e.g.,“HOME,” to the home address. Thus, in the future, the user may selecticon 915 in location box 907 to retrieve the corresponding home addressin response to query 903 or 905. Similarly, in location box 907 icon 909corresponds to a previously saved address of a delicatessen; and icon911 corresponds to a previously saved address of a fitness center.

Alternatively, addresses in locations box 907 may be saved by clickingat icons elsewhere and duplicating same in box 907. For example, icon913 in location box 907 corresponding to a Wells Fargo bank addressresults from clicking at icon 1103 e in favorites box 1103 (describedbelow with FIG. 11) and duplicating same in box 907.

After learning the origination address and destination addressresponsive to queries 903 and 905, respectively, processor 103 analyzesthe map and related information stored in section 513 of record 400.Specifically, processor 103 determines whether the navigation coveragebased on the map layer corresponding to automobile travel in thisinstance, includes the origination and destination addresses, andwhether the stored map and related information is fresh, as indicated atstep 1003 in FIG. 10. If the navigation coverage includes theorigination and destination addresses in question, and the periodelapsed from the time stamp of the stored map and related informationdoes not exceed a predetermined period (i.e., the stored map and relatedinformation is fresh), based on such map and related information,processor 103 at step 1006 selects the route from the originationaddress to the destination address which is the most time-efficient,i.e., fastest by automobile in this instance, taking into account therelevant weather, traffic, and road conditions along the selected route,together with any roadblocks set up by the user in a manner to bedescribed. Such a selection process is achieved by analyzing the portionof the map and related information concerning the weather, traffic androad conditions and roadblocks in the navigation coverage, and involvespredictions concerning the effects of such conditions on the automobiletravel along the selected route at different points in time. At step1009, processor 103 causes turn-by-turn instructions 917 concerning theselected route to be shown on the DIRECTIONS page.

Otherwise, if the stored map and related information does not cover theorigination and/or destination address in question, and/or if the mapand related information is not fresh, processor 103 at step 1013establishes a communication connection to navigation server 630. At step1016, processor 103 causes a transmission of a request for fresh map andrelated information for an appropriate navigation coverage through theestablished connection. This request contains, among other things, thepersonal favorites in section 517, personal data in section 503 andpersonal profile in section 507 of record 400, in addition to theorigination and destination address information. In response to such arequest, navigation server 630 prepares new map and related informationfor the coverage from at least the origination address to thedestination address. In addition, based on the new map and relatedinformation, the received personal favorite list, personal data andpersonal profile, server 630 “clones” a personal favorite list from thereceived list. As discussed before, this cloned list may be differentfrom the received list to reflect any geographic differences between theprevious and current navigation coverages. At step 1019, processor 103receives from server 630 the new map and related information and clonedpersonal favorite list. Processor 103 at step 1021 stores them insections 513 and 517 of record 400, respectively. Again, the user isafforded a chance to edit the cloned personal favorite list in a mannerdescribed before. Processor 103 then proceeds to step 1006 describedabove.

Referring back to FIG. 9, the user in this instance may rely onturn-by-turn instructions 917 to reach home by automobile. Ifarrangement 100 is “docked” or connected to the aforementionedautomobile system, the turn-by-turn instructions would be communicatedby the automobile system via audio media to the user when the automobiletraversing the navigated route approaches each turn.

In addition, the user is afforded VIEW option 919 to view an image of amap including the navigated route. Upon selection of option 919, thenavigator browser opens a MAP VIEWER page on display 113. FIG. 11illustrates such a MAP VIEWER page including map 1101 which correspondsto automobile travel. Map 1101 is also derived from the map and relatedinformation currently stored in section 513 of record 400. The navigatedroute (denoted 1102) for which instructions 917 are given is highlightedon the MAP VIEWER page, with preselected icon 1107 indicating theorigination address previously entered, and icon 915 described aboveindicating the destination address previously entered.

In addition, favorites box 1103 on the MAP VIEWER page lists thepersonal favorites currently stored in section 517 of record 400. Theicons which are associated with such personal favorites are populated onmap 1101 to indicate the locations of such personal favorites. Forexample, icon 1103 a in box 1103 associated with the personal favorite“Chevron” is also shown on map 1101 to indicate its location thereon.Icon 1103 b in box 1103 associated with “Vons” is also shown on map 1101to indicate its location thereon. Icon 1103 c in box 1103 associatedwith “Comp USA” is also shown on map 1101 to indicate its locationthereon. Icon 1103 d in box 1103 associated with “Kmart” is also shownon map 1101 to indicate its location thereon. Icon 1103 e in box 1103associated with “Wells Fargo” is also shown on map 1101 to indicate itslocation thereon.

Scene box 1105 lists “scenic” facilities and events which may serve aslandmarks along the navigated route, as the icons associated with suchscenic facilities and events are also populated on map 1101. Some scenicfacilities and events may be important to the user such as a rest stopindicated by icon 1105 a, or “McDonald's” indicated by icon 1105 b incase the user is hungry when traveling along the navigated route whichis not close to any of his/her favorite restaurants in this instance.Some scenic facilities and events may be of marginal interest to theuser such as the “Charity Walkathon” indicated by icon 1105 c. If indeedthe user decides to adopt any scenic facility or event as one of his/herfavorites, the user may use an indicator device to click at the iconassociated with the scenic facility or event in either box 1105 or map1101 and drag same into box 1103. For example, if after tryingMcDonald's Restaurant indicated by icon 1105 b, the user decides to addthe restaurant to his/her favorite list, he/she may then click at icon1105 b in either box 1105 or map 1101 and drag same into box 1103 toeffect such an addition.

In this instance, the user is afforded PHONE option 1109 to contactpersonnel of any listed facilities or events by phone. For example, aselection by the user of icon 1105 b, followed by a selection oftelephone option 1109, causes processor 103 to look up, from the map andrelated information stored in section 513 of record 400, the phonenumber of McDonald's Restaurant associated with icon 1105 b. Processor103 then causes transceiver 121 to place a voice call to McDonald'sRestaurant using the phone number just looked up. Accordingly, the usermay talk to the personnel of the restaurant over the phone connection.

Alternatively, the user is afforded INFO option 1111 to obtain furtherinformation regarding any listed facilities or events. For example, aselection by the user of icon 1105 b, followed by a selection of INFOoption 1111, causes processor 103 to access the stored map and relatedinformation in section 513 for video and sound clips, graphics andtextual information concerning McDonald's restaurant associatedtherewith. In this instance, the processor 103 causes user interface 115to announce, “Welcome to McDonald's,” and/or the navigator browser toplay a commercial of McDonald's Restaurant based on the video and soundclips. The navigator browser then opens a MCDONALD'S RESTAURANT page ondisplay 113.

FIG. 12 illustrates the MCDONALD'S RESTAURANT page containing directionsto McDonald's Restaurant associated with icon 1105 b, and informationconcerning the restaurant service hours, phone number, facility, anypromotion, etc. NAVIGATE key 1205, BACK key 1209, RESTAURANT WEBSITE key1213 and RESTAURANT MENU key 1215 are also provided on the RESTAURANTpage. A selection of NAVIGATE key 1205 causes processor 103 to providethe user with a DIRECTIONS page similar to FIG. 9 described before,including turn-by-turn instructions to the restaurant.

A selection of BACK key 1209 enables the user to return to the previouspage, i.e., the MAP VIEWER page. Key 1213 represents a hyperlink to thewebsite of the restaurant. Thus, a selection of key 1213 causes thenavigator browser to open the restaurant home page on display 113. Inaddition, a selection of key 1215 enables the user to access theRESTAURANT MENU page, which is illustrated in FIG. 13.

As shown in FIG. 13, the RESTAURANT MENU page enumerates types of foodand beverages served in the restaurant. Each food and beverage entry maybe highlighted by selecting same. The user may order ahead thehighlighted food and beverages by selecting ORDER key 1305. Uponselection of key 1305, the navigator browser causes the orderinformation to be transmitted through Internet 650 to a restaurantserver at a predetermined URL for processing the order. Thus, theresulting order awaits the user's arrival at the restaurant.

Referring back to FIG. 11, the user is also afforded BLOCK option 1113,whereby the user can prevent or limit the appearance of certainsubscribers and non-subscribers in navigation by arrangement 100. Forexample, a selection by the user of icon 1105 b, followed by a selectionof BLOCK option 1113, causes the navigator browser to send to server 630a request for blocking transmission of information concerning McDonald'sRestaurant to arrangement 100. Upon receiving such a request, server 630returns to the navigator browser an INQUIRY page, which the browser thenopens on display 113.

FIG. 14 illustrates such an INQUIRY page where the user is afforded achoice of a PERMANENT BLOCKADE and a TEMPORARY BLOCKADE. In thisinstance, a selection by the user of the PERMANENT BLOCKADE causes apermanent prevention of transmission of information concerning anyMcDonald's Restaurant in the world to arrangement 100. An alternativeselection of the TEMPORARY BLOCKADE needs to be accompanied by aspecification of a time period during which the blockade is effective.For example, the user may have grown tired of McDonald's food and thusmay want to use the TEMPORARY BLOCKADE to prevent transmission ofinformation concerning any McDonald's Restaurant in the world toarrangement 100 for a specified period.

Any blockade choice by the user is communicated by the navigator browserin arrangement 100 to server 630. The latter stores the blockade choicein a record identified by the IP address of the navigator browser. Ineach subsequent navigation episode, server 630 transmits to thenavigator browser information concerning subscribers and non-subscribersin a selective manner, reflecting any blockade choice stored in theassociated record.

Similarly, the user is afforded ROADBLOCK option 1115 to precludecertain roadways or areas from navigation consideration by arrangement100 as the roadways may be hazardous for driving and the areas may havea high crime rate. For example, to set up roadblocks, after selectingROADBLOCK option 1115, the user may use a stylus to trace any roadway ordefine any area on display 113 to be excluded from the navigationconsideration. In this instance, the user chooses to block a portion ofthe Ortega Highway denoted 1131 and indicated by crosses thereon, andarea 1133 shown shaded in FIG. 11. In response, the navigator browsermay open an inquiry page similar to FIG. 14 where the user may specifywhether each roadblock is a permanent blockade or temporary blockade.Processor 103 stores the user's choices of blockade and the GPScoordinates defining road portion 1131 and area 1133 in section 513 ofrecord 400. Based on such stored information, processor 103 accordinglyselects routes circumventing road portion 1131 and area 1133 innavigation.

The user is also afforded DELETE option 1117 to remove certain displayeditems in the MAP VIEWER page. For example, a selection by the user oficon 1105 b, followed by a selection of DELETE option 1117 causes adeletion of icon 1105 b from both box 1105 and map 1101, along with anyinformation associated therewith.

The foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the invention. Itwill thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able todevise numerous other arrangements which embody the principles of theinvention and are thus within its spirit and scope.

For example, navigator arrangement 100 is disclosed herein in a form inwhich various functions are performed by discrete functional blocks.However, any one or more of these functions could equally well beembodied in an arrangement in which the functions of any one or more ofthose blocks or indeed, all of the functions thereof, are realized, forexample, by one or more appropriately programmed processors.

1. A method for use in a navigation system which includes a display, themethod comprising: maintaining a record containing specified facilitiesaccording to a user's preferences; receiving from the user a request forplanning a route; accessing the record in response to the request;indicating on the display a planned route and one or more of thespecified facilities; suggesting at least one facility of a selectedtype in a vicinity of a segment of the planned route if it is determinedthat no specified facility of the selected type in the record is in thevicinity of the planned route segment; providing information concerningthe suggested facility; and allowing the user to include the suggestedfacility in the record.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the record isrelated to personal use.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the record isrelated to business use.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the record isrelated to leisure use.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein locations ofthe one or more specified facilities are indicated on the display by oneor more icons, respectively.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein thesuggested facility is suggested for convenience of a vehicle user. 7.The method of claim 6 wherein the suggested facility includes a reststop.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the information includes contactinformation for communicating with the suggested facility.
 9. The methodof claim 8 wherein the contact information includes a telephone number.10. The method of claim 1 wherein the information includes operatinghours of the suggested facility.
 11. A method for use in a navigationsystem which includes a display, the method comprising: maintaining arecord containing specified product or service providers according to auser's preferences; receiving from the user a request for planning aroute; accessing the record in response to the request; indicating onthe display a planned route and one or more of the specified product orservice providers; suggesting at least one provider of a selectedproduct or service in a vicinity of a segment of the planned route if itis determined that no specified provider in the record provides theselected product or service in the vicinity of the planned routesegment; transmitting an order for the selected product or service tothe at least one provider; providing directions to reach the at leastone provider to obtain the selected product or service; and allowing theuser to include the at least one provider in the record.
 12. The methodof claim 11 wherein the order is transmitted via an Internet.
 13. Themethod of claim 11 wherein the selected product or service includesfood.
 14. The method of claim 13 further comprising providing a menu forfood selection via a communications network.
 15. The method of claim 11further comprising providing information concerning the at least oneprovider.
 16. The method of claim 15 wherein the information includescontact information.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the contactinformation includes a telephone number.
 18. The method of claim 15wherein the information includes business hours of the at least oneprovider.
 19. The method of claim 11 wherein the record is related topersonal use.
 20. The method of claim 11 wherein the record is relatedto business use.
 21. The method of claim 11 wherein the record isrelated to leisure use.
 22. A navigation system comprising: storage forstoring a record containing specified facilities according to a user'spreferences; an interface for receiving from the user a request forplanning a route, the record being accessed in response to the request;a display for indicating thereon a planned route and one or more of thespecified facilities; a processor programmed to suggest at least onefacility of a selected type in a vicinity of a segment of the plannedroute if it is determined that no specified facility of the selectedtype in the record is in the vicinity of the planned route segment; andan output device for providing information concerning the suggestedfacility, the user being allowed to include the suggested facility inthe record.
 23. The system of claim 22 wherein the record is related topersonal use.
 24. The system of claim 22 wherein the record is relatedto business use.
 25. The system of claim 22 wherein the record isrelated to leisure use.
 26. The system of claim 22 wherein locations ofthe one or more specified facilities are indicated on the display by oneor more icons, respectively.
 27. The system of claim 22 wherein thesuggested facility is suggested for convenience of a vehicle user. 28.The system of claim 27 wherein the suggested facility includes a reststop.
 29. The system of claim 22 wherein the information includescontact information for communicating with the suggested facility. 30.The system of claim 29 wherein the contact information includes atelephone number.
 31. The system of claim 22 wherein the informationincludes operating hours of the suggested facility.
 32. A navigationsystem comprising: storage for storing a record containing specifiedproduct or service providers according to a user's preferences; aninterface for receiving from the user a request for planning a route,the record being accessed in response to the request; a display forindicating thereon a planned route and one or more of the specifiedproduct or service providers; a processor programmed to suggest at leastone provider of a selected product or service in a vicinity of a segmentof the planned route if it is determined that no specified provider inthe record provides the selected product or service in the vicinity ofthe planned route segment; a transmitting device for transmitting anorder for the selected product or service to the at least one provider;and an output device for providing directions to reach the at least oneprovider to obtain the selected product or service, the user beingallowed to include the at least one provider in the record.
 33. Thesystem of claim 32 wherein the order is transmitted via an Internet. 34.The system of claim 32 wherein the selected product or service includesfood.
 35. The system of claim 34 wherein a menu for food selection isprovided via a communications network.
 36. The system of claim 32wherein information concerning the at least one provider is provided.37. The system of claim 36 wherein the information includes contactinformation.
 38. The system of claim 37 wherein the contact informationincludes a telephone number.
 39. The system of claim 36 wherein theinformation includes business hours of the at least one provider. 40.The system of claim 32 wherein the record is related to personal use.41. The system of claim 32 wherein the record is related to businessuse.
 42. The system of claim 32 wherein the record is related to leisureuse.